Development of the infection strategy of the hemibiotrophic plant pathogen,Colletotrichum orbiculare,and plant immunity

The hemibiotrophic fungus Colletotrichum orbiculare forms appressoria as infection structures and primarily establishes biotrophic infection in cucumber epidermal cells. Subsequently, it develops necrotrophic infection. In the pre-invasion stage, morphogenesis of appressoria of C. orbiculare is triggered by signals from the plant surface. We found that C. orbiculare PAG1 (Perish-in-the-Absence-of-GYP1), a component of MOR [morphogenesis-related NDR (nuclear Dbf2-related) kinase network] plays an essential role as a key component of the plant-specific signaling pathway and that hydrolysis of cutin by a spore surface esterase creates a cutin monomer that constitutes a key plant-derived signal. Development of the infection structure of C. orbiculare is strictly regulated by the cell cycle and we found that proper regulation of G1/S progression via two-component GAP genes, consisting of BUB2 (Budding-Uninhibited-by-Benomyl-2) and BFA1 (Byr-Four-Alike-1) is essential for the establishment of successful infection. In the post-invasion stage, the establishment of the biotrophic phase of hemibiotrophic fungi is crucial for successful infection. We found that C. orbiculare WHI2 (WHIsky-2), an Saccharomyces cerevisiae stress regulator homolog, is involved in the phase transition from biotrophy to necrotrophy through TOR (Target of Rapamycin) signaling, and is thus essential for full pathogenesis.     

Two class III chitin synthases specifically localized in appressoria and haustoria of Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici

Rust fungi like Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici are known to change their cell wall properties upon entering the plant tissue. Immunohistochemistry revealed the cellular localization of two class III chitin synthase isoforms in rust mycelia developing on and in the host plant. Isoform IIIa is restricted to fungal infection structures growing on the surface of the plant, such as germ tubes and, predominantly, appressoria. Isoform IIIb is found exclusively in haustoria developed inside the plant. Thus, the rust fungus uses at least two chitin synthase isoforms with specialized functions in the differentiation of infection structures during the biotrophic plant-pathogen-interaction.     

Light and scanning electron microscopy studies on the infection process of melon leaves by Colletotrichum lagenarium

Colletotrichum lagenarium is the casual agent of anthracnose disease of melons. Light and scanning electron microscopy were used to observe the infection process of C. lagenarium on the leaves of two melon cultivars differing in susceptibility. On both cultivars conidia began germinating 12 h after inoculation (hai), forming appressoria directly or at the tips of germ-tubes. By 48 hai appressoria had melanised and direct penetration of host tissue had begun. On the susceptible cultivar, infection vesicles formed within 72 hai and developed thick, knotted primary hyphae within epidermal cells. By 96 hai C. lagenarium produced highly branched secondary hyphae that invaded underlying mesophyll cells. After 96 hai, light brown lesions appeared on the leaves, coincident with cell necrosis and invasion by secondary hyphae. While appressoria formed more quickly on the resistant cultivar, fewer germinated to develop biotrophic primary or invasive necrotrophic secondary hyphae than on the susceptible cultivar. These results confirm that C. lagenarium is a hemibiotrophic pathogen, and that resistance in melons restricts colonisation by inhibiting the development of necrotrophic secondary hyphae.     

小麦白粉菌附着胞畸形现象的研究

 研究了70份小麦抗白粉病育种材料和品种上小麦白粉菌附着胞的畸形现象。结果表明:附着胞分瓣是畸形的主要形式,分瓣附着胞丧失了侵入能力,因此分瓣是一种重要的抗病现象。分瓣的发生与寄主的局部抗病反应无关,而与Pm4抗病基因有着密切的关系。     

温湿度对草莓炭疽菌侵染草莓叶片的影响

为探索草莓炭疽病潜伏侵染条件提供理论依据。本研究在离体条件下通过调控室内温湿度对草莓炭疽病的发病情况及侵染特性差异性进行研究。结果表明：温湿度组合处理25℃/85%、20℃/80%、15℃/80%、10℃/80%、15℃/75%、10℃/75%在接种7天后均能发病,处理10℃/70%接种后28天才轻微发病。侵染特性差异性研究表明,处理25℃/85%,接种6 h,25%的分生孢子开始萌发;接种12 h,附着孢开始形成,形成率为16%,接种48 h,叶片开始出现零星病斑;接种7天,叶片组织细孢大量腐烂崩解,病指为39.07。处理10℃/70%,接种1天,2.88%分生孢子开始萌发;直至接种24天,分生孢子萌发率达到100%,附着孢开始形成,形成率为8.83%;接种28天,叶片开始出现零星病斑,病指仅为1.85;接种42天,叶片组织大面积腐烂,形成典型的炭疽病斑。得出处理10℃/70%接近该病害发病的底线温湿度条件,此条件下的潜伏期能够达到28天。